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    Kuchiki-taoshi

    朽木倒 · くちきたおし · single-leg drop · said koo-CHEE-kee tah-OH-shee

    Also known as single leg takedown (wrestling), single leg (BJJ)

    About this techniqueJump to step by stepPlain text version

    Barred in competition

    Demonstrations

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    Where this technique is not allowed

    Penalised in competition: catching the leg with the hand draws a shido under current IJF rules. The grip becomes legal once both judoka are clearly in ne-waza and the standing exchange has stopped. It is taught and examined as normal, and the BJA sets it as a 4th Dan fundamental skill.

    Under contest rules

    Shido. Catching the leg with the hand draws a shido while both judoka are standing. Once they are clearly in ne-waza and the standing exchange has stopped, the same grip is legal.

    Sport and Organisation Rules of the International Judo Federation: refereeing rules, 2026 edition, Article 18.1.2.

    Still taught, demonstrated and examined, so it is written up in full here. The restriction above is a contest rule, not a reason to skip it. See the prohibited techniques list.

    About this technique

    The single-leg takedown, named for felling a rotten tree: tori drops level, catches one leg behind the knee and drives the upper body back over it. A Kodokan te-waza and a wrestling staple, it draws a shido in current IJF competition under the leg-grab rules, but remains legal to practise and appears in older syllabuses.

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    A technique to push down the opponent backward by holding one of his legs either from the inside or outside with one of the hands and pulling it up.
    The Kodokan's definition

    Key points

    1. Change levels with the knees, keeping your back straight
    2. One hand behind the knee, the other driving the chest back
    3. Take the leg and move them; a held leg alone is no throw

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    Te-waza (hand techniques)

    At a glance

    , classification, Gokyo set, Kodokan number, contest rules, grades that require it
    What it is
    Nage-waza (throwing techniques), Te-waza (hand techniques).
    Kodokan number
    113 (KTA).
    Contest rules
    Shido. Catching the leg with the hand draws a shido while both judoka are standing. Once they are clearly in ne-waza and the standing exchange has stopped, the same grip is legal.
    Also written
    Kuchiki-daoshi, Kata-ashi-dori.
    Required for

    Step by step

    These steps describe the standard right-handed form without relying on the video.

    1. From a right-handed grip, bend both knees sharply so your head drops below your partner's chest.
    2. Step your left foot forward beside their right foot and reach your right hand behind their right knee, palm pulling in towards you.
    3. Keep your left hand on their lapel or shoulder and push it backwards and slightly across.
    4. Pull the knee up and towards you while the pushing hand takes their chest back over the leg they can no longer step with.
    5. They sit and fall backwards; keep hold of the leg so they land on their back rather than their tailbone, and note that this technique is banned in current IJF contest rules.

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    Receiving it

    Your partner's level drops and a hand closes behind your knee, and from that moment you have one leg to balance on. Do not fight to stay upright: let the leg go with them, turn slightly to your side as you fall, and slap with the free arm. Landing on the point of the tailbone is the risk, so sit back rather than down.

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    VI judo notes

    Penalised under the leg-grab rules, so it is drilled far more often than it is fought. Drop your level first and let your hand find the leg on the way down by running it along their thigh to the back of the knee, which is far more reliable than reaching for it. Keep hold of the leg as they fall so you know where they have gone and can follow in.

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    Named variations

    Kata-soto-ashi-dori

    Also called: single outer leg grab.

    The one-hand drop taken on the outside of uke's leg: the hand catches behind the knee or ankle from the outside and drives uke back over the trapped foot. A syllabus and video-library name for a form of kuchiki-taoshi; penalised with the rest of the leg grabs in competition.

    Kata-uchi-ashi-dori

    Also called: single inner leg grab.

    The same takedown from the inside: the hand reaches between uke's knees, catches the far side of one leg and drives them back over it. Printed by this name in the BJA Mon syllabus; penalised with the rest of the leg grabs in competition.

    In competition

    , how often it scores at IJF level, and two contests where it worked

    Senior IJF competition, 2020 to 2026, from 73,099 contests. Counts scores, not attempts.

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    In combinations, counters and transitions

    , 4 awaiting review

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    None recorded yet. Nobody has written down a counter to Kuchiki-taoshi, or a combination it belongs to. You can suggest one.

    Reference pages elsewhere

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